A daycare centre has spoken out following the tragic death of a one-year-old girl left in a hot car, offering an explanation of its policy to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The child, Olivia, was found unresponsive in a car outside Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood, Sydney, just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Olivia’s father, Etienne Ancelet, had arrived to pick her up but was told she had not been dropped off. He rushed back to his car and discovered she was still strapped into her baby capsule.
In response to the tragedy, Emilys Early Learning in Ipswich, Queensland, expressed their condolences, calling the incident an “absolute tragedy” on social media. “RIP darling girl. I cannot imagine the unbearable pain of grieving the loss of your child,” the centre posted. They also emphasized their commitment to contact parents by 10 a.m. if children have not been dropped off on their scheduled days, hoping this policy becomes common across all childcare providers.
There is no indication of wrongdoing on the part of Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre, nor has any criminal responsibility been suggested for Mr. Ancelet. A police investigation is ongoing, but no charges have been filed at this stage.
Scott Phillips, CEO of Kidsafe WA, highlighted the growing issue of children being left alone in hot cars, with around 5,000 incidents reported each year in Australia. The incident in Earlwood is believed to be an example of “forgotten baby syndrome,” a phenomenon where parents unintentionally leave their children in the car. Research from the University of South Florida shows that more than 25% of parents with children under three have forgotten their child in the car, particularly when changes in routine, stress, or sleep deprivation are factors.
University of South Florida professor David Diamond explained that routine can cause a person’s brain to go into “autopilot,” making them forget important details like an errand, as brain activity suppresses conscious memory during habitual actions.
Social media has seen an outpouring of support for Mr. Ancelet and his wife, Kim Visconti. While some expressed criticism of the mistake, others pointed out that it’s easy to forget children in the car. “There’s nothing that authorities could do to punish this parent more than what they’re currently and will be going through for the rest of their days,” one comment stated. Another urged for an inquiry into how to prevent such incidents.
Some new electric vehicles are equipped with technology that can detect passengers left in the car, sounding an alarm or even activating the air conditioning to maintain a safe temperature. Models like the BYD Dolphin and Volvo EX90 are designed to prevent such accidents. However, critics argue that the technology should have been implemented sooner, possibly preventing Olivia’s death.
As neighbours tried to revive Olivia, Mr. Ancelet’s heartbreaking screams could be heard. Paramedics arrived five minutes later but were unable to save the child. Mr. Ancelet, overwhelmed with shock, was heard shouting, “I killed my daughter! Kill me! F*** I can’t process this” as he was taken to the hospital.
Olivia had just celebrated her first birthday, with her father sharing proud moments on social media. On Wednesday, detectives were seen at the daycare as parents dropped off their children.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Emilys Early Learning for additional comments.
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